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| 09-29-2004 | Previous edition: 09-28-2004 |
        
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Printer-friendly version New programs help freshman engineers plan college careersBy Angel ZhangStaff Writer The new department of engineering education is preparing freshman engineers for their academic careers at Purdue. The interdisciplinary engineering program and the freshman engineering program merged to create a new department at Purdue. Purdue is the first in the country to dedicate an entire academic department to engineering education. Established in April 2004, one of the goals of the department is to assist first year students with choosing a specific major. Because most universities require their students to choose a major right away, Purdue believes the program is a good opportunity for freshmen to learn about all their options and decide which one is right for them. Korina Wilbert, director of communications for the department of engineering education, said one of the most important and unusual features of the program is that it gives students time to decide which discipline they will pursue. "In our Engineering 100 course, students learn about all the disciplines and get plenty of information to help them decide," she said. "Other services for freshmen include academic advising and support, special programs, learning communities, mentors and more." Research is being conducted on how to best prepare future students for the rigors of a university engineering curriculum. "We'll soon be adding graduate programs for students interested in studying the science of learning," said Wilbert. "Through outreach, we'll be strengthening engineering education in grades K-12, so we'll be taking a leadership role in reforming engineering education from the earliest ages through undergraduate and graduate education and beyond." The department is also working on a multidisciplinary engineering program with a plan of study that cuts across the traditional engineering disciplines. Students can begin registering for the program this fall. Also planned is a new undergraduate engineering education program that will offer graduate degree programs for students interested in studying engineering education. This program will begin next fall. Sherry Cheng, a freshman in the School of Engineering, said the program is helping her with the transition between high school and college. "I’ve learned lots of different aspects of engineering, like what they do, as well as setting the foundation for the specific engineering school we would be going to next year," she says. Within the first five months of its establishment, the department is growing at a steady pace. It plans to move to the new Millennium Engineering Building when it opens in 2007. "The department of engineering education is in its nascent stages, and the future looks very bright," says Wilbert. "We have some exciting new initiatives underway and some ambitious plans for the near future." Printer-friendly version |
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